Java.July.2016

Portraits by Johnny Jaffe
In a city where most men feel comfortable in giveaway tees and cargo shorts
left over from high school, there is a growing cadre of those who would
rather support local brands and high-quality wares. Although the Valley of
the Sun is not known as a particularly fashionable region, a few Phoenix
companies stand out when it comes to contemporary men’s street wear. Sam
Gomez of Phoenician Clothing could be the answer to this city’s fashion woes.
The guy has been keeping it real since the beginning in 2001, and his message
remains intact time and time again.
I originally found out about Gomez through JAVA’s art director, Victor Vasquez,
who had done some design work for Phoenician Clothing. Shortly thereafter, I
met Sam at his booth at the annual “Lowtography” show, a lowrider photography
and lifestyle event. It was here that I first showed my support for the brand by
purchasing one of their newly designed tees. I am now residing in Los Angeles,
but Gomez made our remote dialogue effortless. There is a lot to take from the
words of a man so dedicated to his craft.
Where are you from, and how did where you grew up
influence you?
I’m from Phoenix, born and rising! I grew up mainly in west Phoenix, off 35th
Avenue and Van Buren. I went to Carl Hayden High School. Growing up in that
area has influenced me in so many ways. Although I lived in the hood called
Mini Park, I always gravitated toward those few homies that created art,
skateboarded and rode bikes. Every hood has artists that keep themselves busy
creating art, keeping them out of major trouble.
One of my first influences was Johnny Tejeda, who is still painting to this day. He
used to make these Playboy bunnies with full bodies in popping/locking positions
with long flannels. They would be wearing those cutoff gloves that people wore
in the ’80s! My other friend, Gustavo, used to do these dope hand styles all the
time after school. He was older than me and lived down the street. Also, I had
a crush on his sister Mayra, so my ass was always over there! My friend Carlos
Elias use to be ill with detail and shading—faces, evil clowns, lowriders and old
Chevy trucks. All of us use to skate from like the summer of ’87 into the ’90s. I
always had an eclectic group of friends that, to this day, remains the same—true
to themselves and their art.
What music and art inspired you? Your brand?
I listen to a diverse style of music, but my foundation is in hip hop—early ’90s
stuff and some early 2000s. I’m a big fan of Project Blowed (Aceyalone) from
LA2TheBay (2Mex, Awol One). I was always bumping the homies ILLPHONIX and
FNX—some of Phoenix’s finest in the ’90s. Their music was raw and a narration
of what I felt and saw on the streets of Phoenix. It was the Phoenix sound for me.
Right now, I have been listening to a lot of Mulatu Astatke. He is an Ethiopian
musician and arranger best known as the father of Ethio-Jazz. His instrumentals
are melodic and funky at the same time. His music really helps me come up with
concepts or just overall mind expansion and perspective on things in my life or
with the brand.
JAVA 13
MAGAZINE